STORYLINE: For their eighth fully animated feature, Illumination and Universal Pictures present The Grinch, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming, and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbors in Whoville when he runs out of food. Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter, and louder celebrations. When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch realizes there is only one way for him to gain some peace and quiet: he must steal Christmas. To do so, he decides to pose as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, even going so far as to trap a lackadaisical misfit reindeer to pull his sleigh. Meanwhile, down in Whoville, Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seely), a young girl overflowing with holiday cheer, plots with her gang of friends to trap Santa Claus as he makes his Christmas Eve rounds so that she can thank him for help for her overworked single mother. As Christmas approaches, however, her good-natured scheme threatens to collide with the Grinch’s more nefarious one. Will Cindy-Lou achieve her goal of finally meeting Santa Claus? Will the Grinch succeed in silencing the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all? (IMDb)

   The Polar Exoress (2004), A Christmas Carol (2009), Arthur Christmas (2011), and Rise of the Guardians (2012) are all feature length animated holiday hits for the family.  In 2018, The Grinch, with Benedict Cumberbatch voicing the legendary character, joined the ranks of full length animated holiday features. 

   To flesh out the children’s classic into a ninety minute movie, a lot of liberties had to be taken with the story. The core story remains, as well as key events. However, a lot had to be added, to the film. The movie is very different from the book.  It’s even different from the 2000 Jim Carrey adaptation.   The nig difference with this film is its designed to be more of a children’s movie, then a family film.  It’s a bit of fun in that regard. 

   It’s been seven years since this adaptation first made its way into cinemas.  Isn’t it funny how much the world has changed in those seven short years?  Or how much an individual can chance on that same amount of time?

   In the past seven years, the world has gone through a world wide pandemic.  That changed me, on multiple levels.  

   Living with long term effects of Covid, that will stick with me for the rest of my life, having a bit of mindlessness, like this is ok.  I have said it before, not everything has to be a heavy film.

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!

The Grinch (2018) continues mt Retro Rewind holiday series that includes The Polar Express (2004), The Addams Family Values (1993), The Holiday (2006), Christmas in Connecticut (1945),  Home Alone (1990), Elf (2003), Miracle on 34th St (1947), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)!